Should I? Chicken Math Conundrum

[Tooshay89]

You could always incubate silkie eggs and send the eggshells to be sexed at an avian lab (that's the method I use!) I'm incubating silkie eggs next month and that's why I choose incubation over buying chicks. I have terrible luck with receiving sexed chicks and ending up with cockerels, haha!

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Silkies are the best. I've got a mixed flock, Production Red roosters, cochin hens (bantam and standard), Brahma hen, golden comet hens, a welsummer hen, and a silkie rooster. (There are a couple more breeds but I can't remember them right now.) Sure, there are some squabbles, but that's to be expected with any flock. Mixed or not. I'm all for mixed flocks. They are great and add a lot of colors. Whatever your choice is, I would get the silkies.

 

[Aunt Angus]

You could always incubate silkie eggs and send the eggshells to be sexed at an avian lab (that's the method I use!) I'm incubating silkie eggs next month and that's why I choose incubation over buying chicks. I have terrible luck with receiving sexed chicks and ending up with cockerels, haha!

Ooh! Interesting! Can I PM you and ask more about this? I am very interested I hearing this. I've had luck so far, but I know me. Luck ain't my strong suit.

 

[Aunt Angus]

The reason you get so many different stories is because different people have different results. Sometimes people have problems integrating new BO's into a flock of BO's. Some people mix about anything with no problems whatsoever. I don't know which one you are. There are so many different variables, some you can control and some you cannot.

If you want them that badly, get them. Then deal with whatever happens. It may work out great, with your set-up it sounds likely. You may need to get rid of them (or your others), you may bury them, or you may need to keep them separated forever. Life does not come with guarantees, it comes with opportunities. Sometimes those opportunities have issues. That's just the way life works. How badly do you really want them?

As always, sage words of realism from you, @Ridgerunner ! I do really want them. I will go for it if I can find a delivery date that works with my schedule. Right now, I could get buff silkies, but I kinda want a variety.

But everything you say is absolutely true.

 

[Tooshay89]

Ooh! Interesting! Can I PM you and ask more about this? I am very interested I hearing this. I've had luck so far, but I know me. Luck ain't my strong suit.

Absolutely! And I hear ya! I learned the hard way to hatch way more chicks than I ultimately wanted to keep. With my last hatch, almost all of the chicks that I was set on keeping ended up being cockerels once I got the results back from the lab. Figures! I still got several keepers out of it, so that's always a good thing.

If you incubate your own eggs, you can order a variety of silkie colors, which is always nice. Plus, I just love the incubation process, it's fun and exciting, like Christmas morning!

 

[Shorty22366]

I have silkies in my mixed flock along with Jersey Giants, Favorellas, Polish, Cochrins, bantams, and Sebrights. They all get along. So.etime pecking order disputes but I love all my babies and they love each other.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have silkies in my mixed flock along with Jersey Giants, Favorellas, Polish, Cochrins, bantams, and Sebrights. They all get along. So.etime pecking order disputes but I love all my babies and they love each other.

The Polish, too? Good toknow. I've heard horror stories about their fancy do's getting massacred. Polish are so much fun!

Come to think of it, when I was a little girl, my babysitter had a mixed flock. I remember Penny the BPR and Henny the Polish were besties. Huh. Funny I remember that so clearly.

I'm going to order my silkies tomorrow. A gal at work and I are going in on an order together so I can order 3. I AM SO EXCITED!

In the mean time, my isolation pen is getting christened by my Cochin who got an injury on her comb this evening. My BPR was pecking at it. I cleaned and blue koted it. And poor, slow Iris is sleeping in the pen tonight. While the rest are free ranging tomorrow, she will get the run all to herself.

My first injury! Yay.

 

[Tooshay89]

The Polish, too? Good toknow. I've heard horror stories about their fancy do's getting massacred. Polish are so much fun!

Come to think of it, when I was a little girl, my babysitter had a mixed flock. I remember Penny the BPR and Henny the Polish were besties. Huh. Funny I remember that so clearly.

I'm going to order my silkies tomorrow. A gal at work and I are going in on an order together so I can order 3. I AM SO EXCITED!

In the mean time, my isolation pen is getting christened by my Cochin who got an injury on her comb this evening. My BPR was pecking at it. I cleaned and blue koted it. And poor, slow Iris is sleeping in the pen tonight. While the rest are free ranging tomorrow, she will get the run all to herself.

My first injury! Yay.

Yay Silkies!! When will they come in?

I'm impatiently waiting to get silkie eggs from a local breeder next month. I have all large fowl, so this will be my first adventure into bantams/silkies.

I hope everything goes well with your fluffy babies!

 

[Aunt Angus]

N

Yay Silkies!! When will they come in?

I'm impatiently waiting to get silkie eggs from a local breeder next month. I have all large fowl, so this will be my first adventure into bantams/silkies.

I hope everything goes well with your fluffy babies!

Not until June. I'm a teacher, and I want to be able to devote all of my time to them!

I ordered 3 buff silkies and asked for a "mystery" bantam, too. I wanna be surprised!

I want to try incubating, though. I love the thought of hatch day! Maybe later in the summer....

 

[Shorty22366]

The Polish, too? Good toknow. I've heard horror stories about their fancy do's getting massacred. Polish are so much fun!

Come to think of it, when I was a little girl, my babysitter had a mixed flock. I remember Penny the BPR and Henny the Polish were besties. Huh. Funny I remember that so clearly.

I'm going to order my silkies tomorrow. A gal at work and I are going in on an order together so I can order 3. I AM SO EXCITED!

In the mean time, my isolation pen is getting christened by my Cochin who got an injury on her comb this evening. My BPR was pecking at it. I cleaned and blue koted it. And poor, slow Iris is sleeping in the pen tonight. While the rest are free ranging tomorrow, she will get the run all to herself.

My first injury! Yay.

I also have brahma. I love my mixed flock.